Where have I been? Eating a little humble pie.

         I love Thanksgiving. I have such a testimony of gratitude . . . or so I thought. I believe that we need to express our gratitude for all that we have in life. I have so many things to be thankful for. Yet while I was trying really hard this month to focus on the things I was thankful for, the things that I wasn't thankful for seemed to pervade my mind. I know that it is okay to want things to be different, because I also believe in goals, dreams, and aspirations. The way I want things to be seems to have taken over me lately though. I got frustrated and lost sight of what I really have. I was reminded today that we are commanded to be thankful in all things. That is right folks, ALL things.
          Have you read "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom? If you haven't, go check it out of your local library right now! Or, better yet, order right now. It is a classic. It is a true story about Corrie and her sister Betsie, whom helped smuggle Jews out of Holland. Wonderful-story, short--They get caught and are sent to a concentration camp. Betsie is the most thankful person alive. She is religiously devout and shares her beliefs with others in the concentration camp. They get moved to a camp where they are in a room swarming with fleas. Corrie is horrified by the situation and Betsie suggests that they offer a prayer of gratitude for their new accommodations. Corrie states that there is no-way that she could be grateful for fleas. Betsie reminds her that they are commanded to be grateful in all things. So they offer the prayer and later learn that they are able to hold a nightly scripture class with other prisoners only because the guards won't go in that room, because of the fleas.
         It was such a good reminder this morning to be thankful for all things. In the Doctrine and Covenants it states four times that all things shall work together for your good. (D&C 90:24, 98:3, 100:15, 105:40.) That means that we should not only say that we are thankful for our trials, and the "less than perfect" circumstances in our lives, we really should be thankful for them! How do you know that you are thankful for something? You express it! So here are at least 8 things (to make-up for my week off) that I am thankful for today. Some of them may have been things that I previously had a hard time with, but I won't tell you which ones because that wouldn't be fair!

1. Our van. It gets us places safely. I am able to fit all of my kids in there, in their car seats. I can usually get music to play on the radio. Silence is a nice alternative though sometimes.  It has taken me to Arizona three times this year to see my family. Did I mention that it runs?!?! It even passes safety and emissions! What a wonderful car.
2. My four wonderful kids, so close together.There are so many wonderful things about having so many kids, so close together! My kids are great friends. Today Buddy wanted to go play with a friend, but he didn't want to go by himself. Moo-moo couldn't play with friends because he had chosen not to do his job. Both of the boys were upset about not being able to be with each other. The twins have a hard time being without each other also, and the four of them all adore each other. Don't read too much into this either and think my kids have the perfect relationship--this post though is to write about the positive and I won't discredit that by writing things that are negative.
3. My marriage. I know earlier in the month I wrote about being thankful for my husband, but a marriage is so different than a person. When I got married, my family didn't know my husband very well. He had only been home to meet my family one time. There were many who where concerned about my choice. I wasn't one of them--at the time. If I have ever had a time I have a moment where I question my choice, God reminds me why we were suppose to be together. We compliment each other in so many ways. Sometimes in a marriage, it is the yin and yang and is the hardest. Those are the places where you learn to stretch and grow. Stretching and growing isn't always pleasant, but that is why I am thankful for my marriage. I have grown so much, and my husband has too.
4. My husband's job. I am so thankful that he is employed! We have an income!
5. Neighbors. I am blessed with a host of neighbors whom would do anything for me!
6. Self reflection. Okay this one I will tell you--I wasn't thankful for this one. I have eaten humble pie lately. I have realized that things I once prided myself in--I am not that good at. I have a lot of work to do, and sometimes I get very overwhelmed by the amount of work I need to do on myself!
7. Housework. I am so thankful that I can take a dirty, sloppy room and turn it into a orderly haven. 
8. My body. I am thankful that I have a body that can work. I can get on the floor and play with my kids. I can take a walk. I have eyes that can see, ears that can hear, a nose that can smell, a mouth that can taste and fingers that can feel.

 God is good! So can you think of some things that you really are blessed to have (even if you once thought that it wasn't a great thing?)